In a world where students are no longer allowed to speak freely
on campus and are limited to designated "free speech zones,"
students still aren't safe to express their opinions.

Back in March, a feminist studies professor at University of
California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) assaulted a 16 year-old prolife
activist who was displaying literature on campus. The
professor, Mireille Miller-Young, called the prolife group members
"terrorists" after she stole their poster displaying graphic
abortion images.

Let's be clear-the students had every right to be on campus
educating their peers about a cause they are passionate
about. The violence and intolerance that ensued from
Professor Miller-Young was unacceptable.

Just last week Professor Miller-Young issued an apology saying
that she is "invested in her community, in education, in women's
rights, and in free speech and social justice issues." What's
interesting is that apparently her involvement and investment in
these issues only apply to progressive concepts.

Furthermore, letters of support were written by colleagues on
her behalf and were obtained by the Santa Barbara News Press.
These letters cited that Professor Miller-Young was pregnant at the
time and that the graphic images she saw were "deeply offensive" to
her and that due to her pregnancy she was "not one's self
fully." Other letters cited that the "right-wing" media
sought to portray Professor Miller-Young as an "angry black woman"
and that was the only reason for outrage behind her violent and
intolerant behavior.

All logic seems to have gone out the window in this case.
How can Professor Miller-Young and her colleagues defend her
violent actions against a student? How is it that they can't
see the irony in blaming her "pregnancy" as a reason for attacking
a pro-life activist? As a feminist studies professor who
claims she seizes every opportunity to promote equality and free
speech-why is it that she neglected to understand this female
student's pro-life views and respect her values?

The feminist movement in our country seems to ignore the effects
of abortion as well as the emotional impact of the procedure on the
women who undergo it. Instead they advocate for women's
rights, social justice, and equality-yet they forget about the
rights of the unborn. Abortion is an epidemic in our country
and more has to be done on college campuses to educate young women
about it. The students who were passing out literature at
UCSB had every right to be there no matter how "deeply offensive"
their literature was to Professor Miller-Young.

A Young America's Foundation (YAF) poll shows that 52% of
students agree that professors do not present alternative
viewpoints when there are different sides to an issue. This
is a sad reality of the state of higher education in our
country. When more than half of college students recognize
that their professors are biased on a wide variety of topics.
We need to do more to embrace differing viewpoints in academia and
create an environment where all views are encouraged and
respected.

UCSB has yet to officially condemn the actions of Professor
Miller-Young. Michael Young, the Vice Chancellor of Student
Affairs sent out a school-wide email titled "Students and Free
Speech at UCSB" back in March saying that "we are tested once
again, outsiders coming into our midst to provoke us, to taunt us
and attempt to turn us against one another as they promote personal
causes and agendas." His words prove that tolerance toward
conservative values doesn't exist on the UCSB campus and condemns
the pro-life activists for their "extreme" agenda.

Sadly, this is all too common in liberal academia.
Professors have an agenda in and outside of the classroom.
Tolerance only extends to their beliefs and if students have a
differing opinion they may face unfair treatment-or violence in
this case. University and college campuses should be places
of tolerance where all opinions are respected and valued.
Students should feel safe in expressing their beliefs and should
never feel threatened in their environment.